The Right Reverend Roger Morris
“It’s a real joy to serve the parishes, worshipping communities and people in the Colchester Episcopal Area which is a wonderfully varied part of Essex. As we Travel Well Together as a Diocese, I am grateful to work alongside marvellous colleagues in the Colchester Area Team who support our churches in their mission and sharing God’s love with their local communities.”
245
Church Buildings
80
Clergy in
parish
203
Parishes
68
LLM & Readers
73
Church of England Schools
700K
Population
Geographically, the Colchester Episcopal Area covers over half of Chelmsford Diocese, and is home to just over 20% of its people. The Area consists of nine deaneries covering the northern part of the diocese. From coastal communities and port towns like Clacton, Frinton and Harwich in the east and largely rural communities to the west, with the historic market town of Saffron Walden and the major settlements of Halstead and Great Dunmow. It also includes major towns such as Braintree and Harlow.
The Area is served by The Bishop of Colchester, The Right Reverend Roger Morris and two Archdeacons – The Archdeacon of Colchester, The Venerable Ruth Patten and the Archdeacon of Stansted, the Venerable Kate Peacock.
Our Bishops and Archdeacons work with an Area Team made up of Area Deans, Advisors and Voluntary Officers, details of whom can be found below.
Major locations include London Stansted Airport, Harwich seaport, the University of Essex and Colchester itself which became a city in 2022.
1 Fitzwalter Road, Lexden,
Colchester C03 3SS
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07583 000662
07583 000662
07840 329279
07810 851002
07710 291377
07305 595871
4 November 2025
The Deanery of Colchester recently brought over 150 people together from their parishes for a Deanery Day.
29 September 2025
On Saturday 27 September, twelve new priests were ordained at four services across Essex and East London.
19 September 2025
During Spring 2025, three young people from the St Mary's Church Kelvedon Junior Christian Club completed the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for the church.
15 September 2025
Ordination services There were three services held at, 11am, 2pm and 4.30pm. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Dr…
4 June 2025
Anne-Marie is currently Team Rector of the Benefice of Thurstable and Winstree in the Diocese of Chelmsford. Commenting on…
7 April 2025
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev’d Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has announced that the next Area Dean of Harwich will be the Rev’d John Saxon.
